Image forming apparatus capable of wireless communication with portable terminal and having a light emitting portion to indicate the wireless communication is enabled

ABSTRACT

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a first communication portion for communicating with a portable terminal through near field wireless communication by using a first communication type in response to holding of the portable terminal thereover, a second communication portion, capable of communicating with the portable terminal on the basis of communication with the portable terminal by using the first communication type, for carrying out wireless communication with the portable terminal by using a second communication type broader in communication range than the first communication type, and a sound generating portion for generating a notification sound for notifying that communication between the portable terminal and the second communication portion is enabled in response to enablement of the communication between the portable terminal and the second communication portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser.No. 17/091,342, filed on Nov. 6, 2020, which is herein incorporated byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as acopying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine and a multi-functionmachine having a plurality of functions of these machines.

In recent years, as a communication standard for near field wirelesscommunication, near field communication (hereinafter referred to as NFC)has been widely used. Further, products applying the NFC to pairing anduser authentication in order to meet a communication standard capable ofhigh-speed wireless communication compared with the NFC such as WiFi(registered trade name) appear. The pairing refers to communicationprocedure for sending and receiving apparatus information (connectioninformation) in order to establish wireless communication betweendevices (apparatuses). A user causes NFC-enabled devices to be close toeach other, whereby complicated connection setting for wirelesscommunication compatible with a communication standard (for example,WiFi) different from the NFC can be automatically performed (JP-A2015-231156). When such pairing between the devices is carried out bythe NFC, subsequent communication is automatically succeeded from theNFC to the wireless communication such as the WiFi (so-called handover).

Recently, also in the image forming apparatus such as the copyingmachine or the printer, a technique for handover utilizing the NFCcommunication starts to be implemented. As an example, in the imageforming apparatus, an NFC tag in which pieces of connection information,for WiFi communication, such as an SSID, an IP address and a MAC addressare written in advance is provided. The user holds a portable terminalcompatible with the NFC and the WiFi communication over a predeterminedposition of the image forming apparatus, whereby pairing between theportable terminal and the image forming apparatus is carried out. Then,establishment of WiFi connection between the portable terminal and theimage forming apparatus is carried out through the NFC. In the casewhere the WiFi connection is established, the image forming apparatusreceives image data from, for example, the portable terminal through theWiFi communication, and then is capable of performing an image formingoperation for outputting an image on a recording material on the basisof the received image data.

Incidentally, in the case of the NFC, in order to prevent interruptionof the communication, there is a need that the user maintains theportable terminal in a state in which the portable terminal is held overthe image forming apparatus. However, conventionally, in the case wherethe WiFi connection is established by the NFC, the user cannot graspestablishment of the WiFi connection in the image forming apparatus, sothat it was difficult to discriminate whether a current communicationstatus is achieved by the NFC or the WiFi communication. Therefore, someuser keeps the portable terminal held over the image forming apparatus,so that during a period thereof, the user does not readily operate theportable terminal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided animage forming apparatus comprising: an image forming portion configuredto form an image on a sheet: a first communication portion configured tocommunicate with a portable terminal through near field wirelesscommunication by using a first communication type in response to holdingof the portable terminal thereover: a second communication portioncapable of communicating with the portable terminal on the basis ofcommunication with the portable terminal by using the firstcommunication type and configured to carry out wireless communicationwith the portable terminal by using a second communication type broaderin communication range than the first communication type; and a soundgenerating portion configured to generate a notification sound fornotifying that communication between the portable terminal and thesecond communication portion is enabled in response to enablement of thecommunication between the portable terminal and the second communicationportion.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming portionconfigured to form an image on a sheet; a first communication portionconfigured to communicate with a portable terminal through near fieldwireless communication in accordance with a first communication type inresponse to holding of the portable terminal thereover; a secondcommunication portion capable of communicating with the portableterminal on the basis of communication with the portable terminal byusing the first communication type and configured to carry out wirelesscommunication with the portable terminal by using a second communicationtype broader in communication range than the first communication type:and a light emitting portion configured to emit light for notifying thatcommunication between the portable terminal and the second communicationportion is enabled in response to enablement of the communicationbetween the portable terminal and the second communication portion.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming portionconfigured to form an image on a sheet; a first communication portionconfigured to communicate with a portable terminal through near fieldwireless communication by using a first communication type in responseto holding of the portable terminal thereover; a second communicationportion capable of communicating with the portable terminal on the basisof communication with the portable terminal by using the firstcommunication type and configured to carry out wireless communicationwith the portable terminal by using a second communication type broaderin communication range than the first communication type; and a displayportion capable of displaying information on image formation andconfigured to display that communication between the portable terminaland the second communication portion is enabled in response toenablement of the communication between the portable terminal and thesecond communication portion.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an image forming apparatus according to thisembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a constitution of a principal part ofthe image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a control black diagram of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a part of a hardware constitution ofthe image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a control constitution of NFC of theimage forming apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a structure of anoperating panel.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a hardware constitution of a portableterminal in this embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a control constitution of NFC of theportable terminal.

Part (a) of FIG. 11 is a schematic view for illustrating a summary ofthe NFC, part (b) of FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing an output of anRF field detecting portion, part (c) of FIG. 11 is a schematic viewshowing an output in the case where an NFC tag can be normally read, andpart (d) of FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing an output in the casewhere the NFC tag cannot be normally read.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a connection establishment process inthis embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a touch screen for causing aportable terminal to be close thereto.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing an example of connectionestablishment notification of the portable terminal.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view showing another example of the connectionestablishment notification of the portable terminal.

Part (a) of FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing a further example of theconnection establishment notification, and part (b) of FIG. 16 is aschematic view showing a notification example in which a user mayseparate (remove) the portable terminal from the touch screen.

FIG. 17 is a schematic view showing a communication procedure of the NFCand WiFi communication between the image forming apparatus and theportable terminal.

Parts (a) to (c) of FIG. 18 are schematic views for illustrating apolling operation, in which part (a) is the schematic view showing anoutput of the RF field detecting portion, part (b) is the schematic viewshowing an output in the case w % here an ID card is caused to be closeto an NFC tag portion, and part (c) is the schematic view showing anoutput in the case where the portable terminal is caused to be close tothe NFC tag portion.

Parts (a) to (d) of FIG. 19 are schematic views each showing a displayscreen of the portable terminal, in which part (a) shows an initialscreen, part (b) shows a WiFi connection notification screen, part (c)shows a job selection screen, and part (d) shows a data selectionscreen.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

An image forming apparatus of an embodiment of the present inventionwill be described. First, a general structure of an image formingapparatus 1 of this embodiment will be described using FIGS. 1 to 4 .The image forming apparatus 1 is, for example, a general multi-functionmachine possessing various functions such as a copy function, a scanfunction and a print function.

The image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment enables authenticationof a user by carrying out NFC between a portable terminal (portablecommunication terminal) 6 and the image forming apparatus 1. Then, theimage forming apparatus 1 authenticates the user, so that the user iscapable of using the image forming apparatus 1. Further, the imageforming apparatus 1 of this embodiment enables wireless LAN connectionbetween the portable terminal 6 and the image forming apparatus 1 byNFC. By this, for example, transmission and reception of data, large indata volume, such as image data (information on image formation) in theportable terminal 6 is carried on by the wireless LAN such as WiFi(registered trademark), and an image based on this image data can beoutputted by the image forming apparatus 1. Or, the data is not limitedto the image data, but may also be setting data (information on imageformation) such as a kind or a size of a recording material S.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the image forming apparatus 1 includes anapparatus main assembly 1 a incorporating therein an image forming unit11 (FIG. 3 ) as an image forming portion for forming an image on therecording material S, an operating panel (operating unit) 2 provided ona front sound of the apparatus main assembly 1 a, and a human sensor 15and the like. As the recording material S, it is possible to cite asheet such as paper, a plastic film, a cloth or the like. To theoperating panel 2, an operation instruction by the user such as anoperator is inputted.

The image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment is, as shown in FIG. 3, an image forming apparatus of an intermediary tandem type in which animage is formed by transferring toner images of four colors of yellow(Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K) onto an intermediary transferbelt and then by transferring the toner images onto the recordingmaterial S. Incidentally, in the following description, to members usingtouches of the respective colors, suffixes Y, M, C and K are added.However, constitutions and operations of the respective members aresubstantially the same except that the colors of toners used aredifferent from each other, and therefore, as regards the sameconstitution, a constitution for forming a yellow toner image isdescribed as a representative, and constitutions of other colors will beomitted from description.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the image forming apparatus 1.FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the image forming apparatus 1.The image forming apparatus 1 includes, as shown in FIG. 3 , the imageforming unit 11 for forming the image on the recording material S. Theimage forming unit 11 includes photosensitive drums 301Y, 301M, 301C and301K, charging rollers 302Y, 302M, 302C and 302K, and developing devices303Y, 303M, 303C and 303K. Further, the image forming unit 11 includesprimary transfer rollers 305Y, 305M, 305C and 305K, a laser scanner unit398, an intermediary transfer belt 306, a secondary transfer roller 316,a secondary transfer opposite roller 312, and the like.

The image forming apparatus 1 further includes, as shown in FIG. 2 , animage reading unit 10 for reading an image of an original. The imagereading unit 10 is constituted by a reader 10 a and an ADF 10 b. Thereads 10 a optically reads the image of the original placed on anunshown placement table formed with a glass plate and converts the imageinto image data. The ADF 10 b automatically feeds original stacked on anoriginal tray 10 b 1 and reads the image. The ADF 10 b is rotatablysupported and is opened upward by being rotated, whereby the user hasaccess to the placement table of the reader 10 a.

Further, on a front (surface) side of the image forming apparatus 1, anoperating panel 2 which is an operating unit capable of making settingon image formation and setting on image reading is provided. In the caseof this embodiment, the operating panel 2 is provided on the front sidethan the image reading unit 10. For that reason, the user can easilyoperate the operating panel 2. The operating panel 2 includes anoperation display portion 20 a capable of not only displayinginformation but also inputting information and providing an instructionto the image forming apparatus through touch operation, keys 20 b forinputting numerical values and the like, and an outer casing cover 20 c.The operation display portion 20 a is capable of inputting informationand providing the instruction to the image forming apparatus bydisplaying and touching software keys (touch operation) as describedspecifically later. The keys 20 b as a manual input portion are hardwarekeys (physical keys) capable of inputting the information and providingthe instruction to the image forming apparatus by displaying andtouching the software keys. Incidentally, the keys 20 b may also beomitted.

The user is capable of inputting the information such as the numericalvalues and providing the instruction to the image forming apparatus byoperating the operation display portion 20 a or the keys 20 b. Further,it is possible to make setting an image formation such as setting of asize of the recording material S for image formation and the number ofsheets subjected to image formation, and setting on reading of the imagesuch as setting of an original size.

Next, an image forming operation by the image forming apparatus 1 willbe described. When the image is formed, first, an image forming jobsignal is inputted to a controller 3 (FIG. 4 ). By this, a feedingroller 311 and a conveying roller 385 are rotated as shown in FIG. 3 ,and the recording material S stacked and accommodated in a cassette 310is fed to a registration roller pair 386. Then, the recording material Sis sent at predetermined timing by the registration roller pair 386 to asecondary transfer portion formed by the secondary transfer roller 316and the intermediary transfer belt 306 stretched by the secondarytransfer opposite roller 312.

On the other hand, in the image forming unit 11, first, the sound of thephotosensitive drum 301Y is electrically charged by the charging roller302Y. Thereafter, in accordance with an image signal of an image of theoriginal read by the image forming unit 10 or an image signal or thelike sent from an external device such as a personal computer, the laserscanner unit 398 irradiates the sound of the photosensitive drum 301Ywith laser light. By this, an electrostatic latent image is formed onthe sound of the photosensitive drum 301Y. Thereafter, toner of yellowis deposited on the electrostatic latent image formed on the sound ofthe photosensitive drum 301Y by the developing device 303Y, so that ayellow toner image is formed on the sound of the photosensitive drum301Y. The toner image formed on the sound of the photosensitive drum301Y is primary-transferred onto the intermediary transfer belt 306under application of a primary transfer bias to the primary transferroller 305Y.

By a similar process, toner images of magenta, cyan and black are alsoformed on the photosensitive drums 301M, 301C and 301K, respectively.Then, by applying the primary transfer bias to the primary transferrollers 305M, 305C and 305K, these toner images are superposedlytransferred onto the yellow toner image on the intermediary transferbelt 306. By this, a full-color toner image depending on the imagesignal is formed on the sound of the intermediary transfer belt 306.

Thereafter, the intermediary transfer belt 306 is moved and circulatedby transmission of a driving force from a driving roller 317 thereto, sothat the full-color toner image is sent to the secondary transferportion. Then, at the secondary transfer portion, by applying asecondary transfer bias to the secondary transfer roller 316, thefull-color toner image on the intermediary transfer belt 306 istransferred onto the recording material S.

Then, the recording material S on which the toner image is transferredis subjected to heating and pressing processes in a fixing device 315,whereby the toner image on the recording material S is fixed on therecording material S. Thereafter, the recording material S on which thetoner image is fixed is discharged to a discharging portion 307 by adischarging roller pair 313.

As shown in FIG. 4 , in the operating panel 2, a portable terminal(external device) 6 possessed by the user and an NFC tag portion 4 forcarrying out the NFC as near field wireless communication are provided.In other words, the NFC tag portion 4 is incorporated in the operatingpanel 2. The NFC tag portion 4 is, as specifically described later,constituted by an antenna for carrying out transmission and reception ofradio wave and an IC chip for controlling the NFC, and carries out theNFC, which is the near field wireless communication, between itself andthe portable terminal such as a smartphone possessed by the user. TheNFC (near field communication) in a non-communication wirelesscommunication standard utilizing electromagnetic radiation of 13.56 MHz.

Further, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a human sensor15 for detecting the user who approaches the image forming apparatus 1.The human sensor 15 is, for example, disposed at the front surface ofthe apparatus main assembly 1 a, and in the case where a human (person)exists in front of the image forming apparatus 1, the human sensor 15detects the human. Incidentally, the human sensor 15 may also beprovided in the operating panel 2. For example, inside a slit formed inan outer casing cover 20 c of the operating panel 2, the human sensor 15is disposed, and ultrasonic wave is sent through the slit, so thatreflected wave thereof is received and thus the user may also bedetected.

Further, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a wireless LANcommunication portion 5 for carrying out wireless LAN communication withthe portable terminal 6. The LAN is an abbreviation of “Local AreaNetwork”. The NFC tag portion 4 and the wireless LAN communicationportion 5 are connected to a controller 3 for controlling an operationof the image forming apparatus 1 through interfaces, respectively.

The portable terminal 6 is a device of a portable type, such as asmartphone or a computer of a tablet type, and has functions of the NFCand the wireless LAN communication. The user carries out wirelesscommunication with the image forming apparatus 1 by using the portableterminal 6 and causes the image forming apparatus 1 to execute variousprocesses.

[Controller]

Next, a system constitution of the image forming apparatus 1 will bedescribed using FIG. 5 . As shown in FIG. 5 , the image formingapparatus 1 is provided with a RAM (memory) 8 in which data used forcomputation (calculation) by the CPU 7 is temporarily stored and with aROM (storing device) 13 in which various programs are stored. Further,the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with an HDD 104 in whichpieces of software and various settings relating to pieces of control ofthe image forming apparatus 1 and preserved documents are stored.

Further, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a networkinterface 106 for carrying out transmission and reception of datarelative to an external device through the LAN and with the wireless LANcommunication portion (wireless LAN interface) 5 for carrying outtransmission and reception of data relative to the external devicethrough the wireless LAN communication. Further, the image formingapparatus 1 is provided with an operating panel interface 105 forrelaying input data through the operating panel 2 and image data to bedisplayed on the operating panel 2.

Further, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a power source (electricpower) controller 170 for switching between supply of electric power toa particular device and stop of the supply by receiving an instructionfrom the CPU 7. The electric power controller 170 controls a powersupply device 160 which receives supply of power source from acommercial power source and which is capable of supplying electric powerby converting the power source into the electric power used in therespective devices. The electric power controller 170 controls thesupply and stop of the supply of the electric power to each of theoperating panel 2, the network interface 106, the wireless LANcommunication portion 5, the image processing portion 150, the imagereading unit 10, the image forming unit 11 and the human sensor 15. Theabove-described devices, NFC tag data 4 and human sensor 15 areconnected to each other through a system bus 114.

Further, the image forming apparatus 1 includes the image processingportion 150 for processing the image. The image processing portion 150is constituted by a RIP 110, a device interface 111, a printer imageprocessing portion 112 and a scanner image processing portion 113, andthese portions (elements) are connected to each other through an imagebus 115. Further, the image bus 115 and the system bus 114 areconstituted to each other through an image bus interface 109, and by theimage bus interface 109, relay and data structure conversion between theimage bus 115 and the system bus 114 are carried out.

The RIP 110 is a raster image processor converts a page-descriptionlanguage (PDL) code and a display list into bit mapped image. Thescanner image processing portion 113 subjects image data read by theimage reading unit to image processing such as correction, resolutionconversion and the like. The printer image processing portion 112subjects image data formed by the image forming unit 11 to correction,resolution conversion and the like.

The image reading unit 10 is connected to the image bus 115 through ascanner bus 116 and the device interface 111. The image forming unit 11is connected to the image bus 115 through a print bus 117 and the deviceinterface 111. The device interface 111 adjusts timing when the imagedata received from the image reading unit is sent to the image bus 115and timing when the image data is sent from the image bus 115 to theimage forming unit 11.

[Hardware Constitution of Image Forming Apparatus]

Next, a detailed relationship between the controller 3, the operatingpanel 2 and the human sensor 15 will be described using FIG. 6 . FIG. 6is a block diagram showing a part of a hardware constitution of theimage forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 includes theoperating panel 2, the image reading unit 10 for reading the originaland for generating the image data, the image forming unit 11 forexecuting an image forming process on the basis of the image data, atwo-dimensional bar-code generating portion 12, a storing device (ROM)13 for storing various pieces of information. Further, the image formingapparatus 1 includes the NFC tag portion 4 as a first communicationportion, provided in the operating panel 2, for performing theabove-described NFC and includes the wireless LAN communication portion5 as a second communication portion. These portions are connected toeach other through interfaces.

The controller 3 includes the CPU 7, a memory (RAM) 8 and a timer 9, andcontrols operations of the respective portions. The CPU 7 reads aprogram 14 stored in the storing device 13 and executes the program 14.The program 14 is a program causing the controller 3 to function forperforming various processes described later. The memory 8 is used forstoring temporary data with execution of the program by the CPU 7. Thetimer 9 is used for timing when the controller 3 performs the variousprocesses. Further, the controller 3 also functions as an authenticatingportion for authenticating the user on the basis of the NFC as describedlater.

The operating panel 2 includes the operating panel display portion 20 a(FIG. 2 ) for permitting the user to perform the operation as describedabove, the keys 20 b (FIG. 2 ), an operation sound generating portion(sound generating portion) 2 c, an operating panel micon 2 d, a lightemitting portion 2 e, and the NFC tag portion 4. The operating paneldisplay portion 20 a includes a display portion 2 a and an operationinput portion 2 b as an operating portion. The display portion 2 a isconstituted by, for example, a liquid crystal panel and is capable ofdisplaying various pieces of information. The display portion 2 a iscapable of displaying an image on the liquid crystal panel, for example,by receiving the image data from the controller 3 through an unshowntransfer line for image data. Further, the display portion 2 a iscapable of displaying pieces of information on image formation, such asa print number of sheets, a size of a print sheet, a type ofcolor/monochromatic printing, which are various conditions when theimage is printed on the recording material S (for example, the sheet).

The operation input portion 2 b is a touch panel or the like provided onthe display portion 2 a, and the user is capable of inputtinginformation by a touch operation. In this embodiment, the operationinput portion 2 b is a touch panel such that software keys are displayedat the display portion 2 a and the user is capable of inputting theinformation by the toner operation of the software keys. The operationsound generating portion 2 c as the sound generating portion is used forgenerating various operation sounds with user operations and anotification sound for notifying the user of a communication status. Thelight emitting portion 2 e is, for example, an LED (Light EmittingDiode) for displaying a state of the image forming apparatus by blinkingor lighting of light or for notifying the user of the communicationstatus. The operating panel micon 2 e control these portions andcommunicates with the controller 3.

The operating panel 2 in this embodiment has a constitution includingboth the operation sound generating portion 2 c and the light emittingportion e2, but of these portions, the operating panel 2 may also have aconstitution including only the operation sound generating portion 2 cor a constitution including only the light emitting portion 2 e.

The NFC tag portion 4 performs the NFC with the external device (theportable terminal 6 in this embodiment) on the basis of the NFC standard(first communication type), and thus carries out data input and outputbetween the portable terminal 6 and the controller 3. The NFC tagportion 4 in this embodiment is constituted by an IC for RFID (RadioFrequency Identification) and operates as an NFC tag.

The human sensor 15 is capable of detecting the presence of a human(person) within a predetermined region of a periphery of the imageforming apparatus 1. The human sensor 15 in this embodiment in a sensorfor detecting the human or an object present in front of the imageforming apparatus 1, and then sends a detection signal to the operatingpanel micon 2 d. For example, when the human sensor 15 detects the humanin the case where the image forming apparatus 1 is in a sleep mode, thecontroller 3 causes the operating panel 2 to display a touch screen overwhich the portable terminal 6 is to be held at a predetermined positionof the image forming apparatus 1 (FIG. 13 ). Further, at this time, astate of the image forming apparatus 1 is changed from the sleep mode toa stand-by state.

The wireless LAN communication portion 5 performs processing of thewireless LAN communication with the external device (the portableterminal 6 in this embodiment) on the basis of the wireless LAN standard(second communication type), and thus performs data input and outputcarried out between the portable terminal 6 and the controller 3.Specifically, the wireless LAN communication portion 5 performsprocessing of transmission and reception of data packets in accordancewith a wireless LAN communication procedure. The wireless LAN standardis a standard for wireless communication broader in communication rangeand faster in communication speed than the NFC standard. Incidentally,the wireless LAN communication portion 5 is compatible with a wirelessLAN direct mode such as WiFi Direct.

In the wireless LAN direct mode, the wireless LAN communication portion5 operates as a wireless LAN access point (software access point),whereby the wireless LAN communication portion 5 is capable of carryingout the wireless LAN communication with the external device such as theportable terminal 6 without through an external wireless LAN accesspoint.

The two-dimensional bar-code generating portion 12 generates (forms) animage of a two-dimensional bar-code by encoding set data into atwo-dimensional bar-code (QR code (registered tradename)). The generatedimage of the two-dimensional bar-code can be read by being displayed atthe display portion 2 a of the operating panel 2 and then by use of theportable terminal 6 by the user. Incidentally, an image forauthentication is an image which is readable by a camera 38 (FIG. 9 ) ofthe portable terminal 6 and which contains information forauthenticating the user by the image forming apparatus 1. In thisembodiment, the image for authentication is the two-dimensionalbar-code, but when such an image is used, the image for authenticationis not limited to the two-dimensional bar-code. Further, in thisembodiment, the two-dimensional bar-code generating portion 12 may alsobe omitted.

[Hardware Constitution of NFC Tag Portion]

Next, by using FIG. 7 , a hardware constitution of the NFC tag portion 4in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. The NFC tag portion4 includes an NFC tag controller 21, a memory 22, an RF controller 23,an RF interface portion 24, an RF field detecting portion 25, a loopantenna 26, and the like.

The NFC tag controller 21 carries out control of the respective portionsof the NFC tag portion 4 and thus performs data input and outputrelative to the controller 3 through interfaces. The NFC tag controller21 includes a tag reading interruption generating portion 21 a.

The tag reading interruption generating portion 21 a generating aninterruption signal when reading and writing of the NFC tag datarelative to the portable terminal 6 by the NFC between itself and theportable terminal 6. The interruption signal of the tag readinginterruption generating portion 21 a is outputted to the controller 3.

The memory 22 accumulates, as the NFC tag data, data written from thecontroller 3 or the portable terminal 6, and is constituted by anon-volatile memory. Further, the data written in the memory 22 iscapable of being read by the controller 3.

The RF controller 23 performs modulation and demodulation processes ofelectromagnetic radiation for RF communication when the NFC thereof withthe external device (the portable terminal 6 in this embodiment). The RFis an abbreviation of “Radio Frequency”.

When the RF interface portion 24 performs the NFC with the externaldevice (the portable terminal 6 in this embodiment), the RF interfaceportion 24 carries out electromagnetic coupling by being subjected toradiation of electromagnetic radiation, and thus performs transmissionand reception processes of the electromagnetic radiation.

The RF field detecting portion 25 detects an electromagnetic field (RFfield) in a period in which the RF interface portion 24 is subjected tothe radiation of the electromagnetic radiation in the NFC with theexternal device. Specifically, the RF field detecting portion 25 detectselectric power (energy) of the electromagnetic radiation. Incidentally,a detection signal of the RF field detecting portion 25 is outputted tothe controller 3.

The loop antenna 26 is an antenna for carrying out the NFC with theexternal device and is formed in a loop coil shape in order that in thisembodiment, communication by the electromagnetic radiation is carriedout by subjecting the loop antenna 26 to the radiation ofelectromagnetic radiation from the portable terminal 6 and by carryingout electromagnetic coupling.

In this embodiment, the NFC tag portion 4 performs electromagneticcoupling by being subjected to the radiation of electromagneticradiation from the portable terminal 6 and then operates by beingsupplied with electric power resulting from electromotive forcegenerated by the electromagnetic coupling. Incidentally, the memory 22,the RF controller 23 and the RF interface portion 24 are controlled bythe NFC tag controller 21.

[Operating Panel]

Next, by using FIG. 8 , the operation display portion 20 a of theoperating panel 2 will be described more specifically. In thisembodiment, the operation display portion 20 a incorporates (contains)an NFT antenna, and from a lowermost layer, the display portion 2 a, theoperation input portion 2 b which is a touch panel, and the loop antenna26 which is the NFC antenna are superposedly disposed in a named order.At an outermost portion, as shown protective glass may also be provided.

That is, as the lowermost layer of the operation display portion 20 a,the display portion 2 a such as a liquid crystal is disposed. Thedisplay portion 2 a and the operating panel micon 2 d (FIG. 6 ) areconnected to each other by an unshown flexible flat cable (hereinafter,referred to as FFC) or the like. On the display portion 2 a, theoperation input portion 2 b such as the touch panel is disposed.Incidentally, in the operating panel 2. “On the display portion 2 a”refers to a side where the user touches the operating panel 2.

The operation input portion 2 b may also be a touch panel of aresistance type or an electrostatic capacity type or may also be anoptical structure, but in this embodiment, a four-wire resistance-typetouch panel is used. As regards the touch panel as the operation inputportion 2 b, electrodes are provided on four sides and each of theelectrodes is connected to the operating panel micon 2 d through aconnector such as a flexible printed circuit (hereinafter, abbreviatedas FPC).

On the operation input portion 2 b, the loop antenna 26 which is anantenna pattern of the NFC is disposed. The operation input portion 2 band the loop antenna 26 are transparent or semi-transparent films, sothat an image displayed on the display portion 2 a is visible from abovethe loop antenna 26.

In this embodiment, the loop antenna 26 is a single antenna pattern, butmay also be constituted by a plurality of antenna patterns. The loopantenna 26 is also connected to the RF interface portion 24 through aconnector such as the FPC.

The loop antenna 26 is most sensitive when the loop antenna 26 isdisposed on the operation input portion 2 b in communication with theportable terminal 6. For this reason, in this embodiment, the loopantenna 26 is disposed so as to cover the operation input portion 2 b.Incidentally, a position of the loop antenna 26 is not limited thereto,but may also be disposed between the display portion 2 a and theoperation input portion 2 b, for example. Further, the loop antenna 26and the operation input portion 2 b may also be constituted integrallywith each other.

In this embodiment, thus, the loop antenna 26 which is the antenna forestablishing the NFC is disposed in the operating panel 2 so as to besuperposed on the display portion 2 a. For this reason, althoughdescribed specifically later, a touch screen (FIG. 13 ) such that theuser is guided to a predetermined position on the operating panel 2within a display range so as to hold the portable terminal 6 over thepredetermined position can be displayed at the display portion 2 a.Then, the user holds the portable terminal 6 over the operating panel 2,so that the user is capable of carrying out the SFC.

[Hardware Constitution of Portable Terminal]

Next, by using FIG. 9 , a hardware constitution of the portable terminal6 will be described. The portable terminal 6 includes a controller 31,an operating panel 34, a storing device 35, an NFC_R/W portion 36, awireless LAN communication portion 37, a camera 38, a two-dimensionalbar-code analyzing portion 39 and the like. The controller 31 controlsthe portable terminal 6 and is constituted by the CPU 32 and the memory33. The CPU 32 reads and executes various programs stored in the storingdevice 35. The memory 33 stores temporary data with execution of theprogram by the CPU 32.

The operating panel 34 has a constitution in which the user inputs anoperation instruction thereto. That is, the operating panel 34 isconstituted by a display portion 34 a, constituted by a liquid crystalpanel, for displaying various pieces of information and an operationinput portion 34 b which is provided on the display portion 34 a andwhich is a touch panel or the like. In addition, the operating panel 34includes an operation sound generating portion 34 c for generatingvarious operation sounds with various operations. The storing portion 35stores the above-described various programs and the like.

The NFC_R/W portion 36 performs the NFC with the external device (theimage forming apparatus 1 in this embodiment) on the basis of the NFCstandard and carries out data input and output performed between theimage forming apparatus 1 and the controller 3. The NFC_R/W portion 36in this embodiment operates as an NFC reader/writer. That is, theNFC_R/W portion 36 reads and writes data through the NFC.

The wireless LAN communication portion 37 performs a communicationprocess with the external device (image forming apparatus 1 in thisembodiment) on the basis of the wireless LAN standard, and carries outdata input and output performed between the image forming apparatus 1and the controller 31. The wireless LAN communication portion 37 in thisembodiment performs a process of the wireless LAN communication on thebasis of the wireless LAN standard, and specifically performs processesof transmission and reception of data packets in accordance with awireless LAN communication procedure.

The camera 38 is a camera for image pickup. The two-dimensional bar-code39 analyzes a read two-dimensional bar-code and acquires data of thetwo-dimensional bar-code. Further, although not illustrated, theportable terminal 6 includes a constitution of electric power supplynecessary for the portable terminal 6, such as a battery and a powersource (electric power) controller. Incidentally, in this embodiment,the camera 38 and the two-dimensional bar-code analyzing portion 39 mayalso be omitted.

[Hardware Constitution of NFC_R/W Portion]

Next, by using FIG. 10 , a hardware constitution of the NFC_R/W portion36 will be described. The NFC_R/W portion 36 includes an NFC_R/Wcontroller 41, an RF controller 42, an RF interface portion 43, a loopantenna 44 and the like.

The NFC_R/W portion 41 controls the respective portions of the NFC_R/Wportion 36 and carries out data input and output relative to thecontroller 31 through the interfaces. The RF controller 42 performsmodulation and demodulation of electromagnetic radiation for RFcommunication when the RF controller 42 performs the NFC with theexternal device. The RF interface portion 43 radiates theelectromagnetic radiation and carries out electromagnetic coupling whenperforms the NFC with the external device. The RF interface portion 43radiates electromagnetic radiation (wave) and performs electromagneticcoupling when carries out the NFC with the external device, so that theRF interface portion 43 carries out processes of transmission andreception of the electromagnetic radiation.

The loop antenna 44 is an antenna for performing the NFC with theexternal device, and in this embodiment, is formed in a loop coil shapefor carrying out communication through the electromagnetic radiation byradiating the electromagnetic radiation to the image forming apparatus 1and by carrying out the electromagnetic coupling. Incidentally, the RFcontroller 42 and the RF interface portion 43 are controlled by theNFC_R/W controller 41.

[NFC]

Next, by using parts (a) to (d) of FIG. 11 with reference to FIGS. 7, 9and 10 , an operation such that the NFC_R/W portion 36 of the portableterminal 6 carries out electromagnetic coupling with the NFC tag portion4 of the image forming apparatus 1 and thus reads NFC tag data of theNFC tag portion 4 through the NFC will be described. Incidentally, adetailed communication protocol of the NFC conforms to the NFC standard,and in the following, an operation outline of the NFC by theelectromagnetic coupling will be described.

First, as shown in part (a) of FIG. 11 , the NFC_R/W portion 36 performsa polling operation for reading the NFC tag data of the NFC tag portion4. The polling operation is one of communication types of smoothlyassociating a plurality of devices and a plurality of pieces ofsoftware. In response to approach of the portable terminal 6 to the NFCtag portion 4 of the image forming apparatus 1 by the user, the NFC_R/Wportion 36 starts the polling operation.

The NFC_R/W controller 41 controls the RF controller 42 and modulatesthe electromagnetic radiation on the basis of the NFC standard in orderto send command data for reading the NFC tag. This modulated wave issent to the RF interface portion 43. The NFC_R/W controller 41 controlsthe RF interface portion 43 and sends the modulated wave.

The sent modulated wave is sent to the loop antenna 44 from the RFinterface portion 43 and is radiated as the electromagnetic radiation.By this radiated electromagnetic radiation, in the neighborhood of theNFC_R/W portion 36 and the NFC tag portion 4, an RF field(electromagnetic field) is formed, so that the NFC_R/W portion 36 andthe NFC tag portion 4 are electromagnetically coupled to each other.

The NFC tag portion 4 receives the electromagnetic radiation bysubjecting the loop antenna 26 to radiation of the electromagneticradiation. The received electromagnetic radiation is sent to the RFinterface portion 24, and the RF interface portion 24 generateselectromotive force due to the electromagnetic coupling. By thiselectromotive force, the NFC tag portion 4 obtains electric power andthus operates. At the same time, the electromagnetic radiation receivedby the RF interface portion 24 is sent to the RF controller 23.

The NFC tag controller 21 controls the RF controller 23 and acquiresdemodulated data by demodulating the modulated electromagnetic radiationsent to the RF controller 23. The NFC tag controller 21 thus acquiresthe demodulated data and detects that this demodulated data is commanddata for reading the NFC tag data.

Therefore, the NFC tag controller 21 reads the data written as the NFCtag data in the memory 22 and transfers, to the RF controller 23, thedata as response data to command data. The NFC tag controller 21controls the RF controller 23 and modulates the ER on the basis of theNFC standard in order to send the response data which is the NFC tagdata, so that this modulated wave is sent to the RF interface portion24.

The NFC tag controller 21 controls the RF interface portion 24 and sendsa resultant modulated wave. The sent modulated wave is sent from the RFinterface portion 24 to the loop antenna 26, and then is radiated as theelectromagnetic radiation. At this point of time, the NFC tag controller21 regards the NFC tag data as that sending of the NFC tag data as theresponse data is completed in response to reception of the command datafor reading the NFC tag data, and generates an interruption signal bythe tap reading interruption generating portion 21 a.

On the other hand, in the NFC_R/W controller 41, the loop antenna 44receives the modulated electromagnetic radiation on the basis of theresponse data radiated from the NFC tag controller 21. The receivedelectromagnetic radiation is sent to the RF controller 42 through the RFinterface portion 43.

The NFC_R/W controller 41 controls the RF controller 42 acquires thedemodulated data by demodulating the modulated electromagnetic radiationsent to the RF controller 42. Then, the NFC_R/W controller 41 notifiesthe controller 31 of that reading of the NFC tag data of the NFC tagportion 4 is completed. At the same time, the NFC_R/W controller 41transfers the read NFC tag data to the controller 31.

Incidentally, also in the case where the NFC tag portion 4 of the imageforming apparatus 1 acquires the data of the NFC_R/W portion 36 of theportable terminal 6, a communication method is similar to the abovecommunication method since a data output side and a data reading sideare only reversed.

Part (b) of FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing detection output of theRF field detecting portion 25 of the NFC tag portion 4 when theabove-described NFC_R/W portion 36 reads the NFC tag data of the NFC tagportion 4. When the portable terminal 6 is brought close to the imageforming apparatus 1, as described above, the NFC_R/W portion 36 radiatesthe electromagnetic radiation and forms the RF field between itself andthe NFC tag portion 4. Then, in a period in which the NFC tag portion 4receives the electromagnetic radiation, the NFC_R/W portion 36 and theNFC tag portion 4 are electromagnetically coupled to each other and thusis capable of carrying out the NFC. In the NFC tag portion 4, theelectromagnetic radiation received by the loop antenna 26 is sent to theRF field detecting portion 25 through the RF interface portion 24. TheRF field detecting portion 25 outputs an RF field detection “ON” signal52 when the RF field detecting portion 25 detects electric power(energy) of the electromagnetic radiation, and outputs an RF fielddetection “OFF” signal 51 when the RF field detecting portion 25 doesnot detect the electric power (energy) of the electromagnetic radiation.

In general, in order to read the NFC tag data of the NFC tag portion 4by the NFC_R/W portion 36 of the portable terminal 6, the portableterminal 6 carries out the NFC by the polling operation such that theelectromagnetic radiation is periodically radiated. In that case, inorder to reduce electric power consumption, the portable terminal 6carries out the NFC for reading the NFC tag data by periodicallyradiating the electromagnetic radiation with a predetermined timeinterval (referred to as a polling interval), not always radiating theelectromagnetic radiation. Further, in the case the user brings theportable terminal 6 close to the image forming apparatus 1 (specificallythe NFC tag portion 4), the RF field detecting portion 25 is capable ofdetecting electric power of the electromagnetic radiation radiated inaccordance with the polling interval. Therefore, in a period in whichthe portable terminal 6 is brought close to the image forming apparatus1 and the NFC tag portion 4 receives the electromagnetic radiation, theRF field detecting portion 25 generates the RF field detection “ON”signal 52 with the polling interval.

Thereafter, when the user moves the portable terminal 6 away from theimage forming apparatus 1 (specifically the NFC tag portion 4), the RFfield detecting portion 25 does not detect the electric power of theelectromagnetic radiation, and therefore, continuously outputs the RFfield detection “OFF” signal 51.

The transfer of output of the RF field detecting portion 25 will befurther described. Part (c) of FIG. 11 is a schematic view showingoutput of the RF field detecting portion 25 in the case where the NFCtag data of the NFC tag portion 4 is normally read by the portableterminal 6. Part (d) of FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing output ofthe RF field detecting portion 25 in the case where the NFC tag data ofthe NFC tag portion 4 is not normally read by the portable terminal 6.

As shown in part (c) of FIG. 11 , when the portable terminal 6 isbrought close to the image forming apparatus 1, the RF field detectingportion 25 of the NFC tag portion 4 outputs the RF field detection “ON”signal 52 with the polling interval. With this, the NFC_R/W portion 36reads the NFC tag data. Further, when the portable terminal 6 is notbrought close to the image forming apparatus 1, the RF field detectingportion 25 of the NFC tag portion 4 outputs the RF field detection “OFF”signal 51. Thus, in a period of time t1 in which the portable terminal 6is brought close to the image forming apparatus 1, the RF fielddetecting portion 25 generates the RF field detection “ON” signal 52with the polling interval, and thereafter when the portable terminal 6is moved away from the image forming apparatus 1, the RF field detectingportion 25 generates the RF field detection “OFF” signal 51.

When the portable terminal 6 is brought close to the image formingapparatus 1, the RF field detecting portion 25 outputs the RF fielddetection “ON” signal 52 with the polling interval. Here, the NFC_R/Wportion 36 reads the NFC tag data by the polling, but when the NFCfails, the reading of the NFC tag data is not normally completed. Inthis case as shown in part (d) of FIG. 11 , the RF field detectingportion 25 successively outputs the RF field detection “ON” signal 52with the polling interval.

As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment iscapable of carrying out handover such that subsequent data transmissionand reception is handed over to the wireless LAN or the like by carryingout the pairing with the portable terminal 6 through the NFC. That is,only by bringing the portable terminal 6 close to the image formingapparatus 1, the user is capable of causing these devices (apparatuses)to automatically make complicated settings for wireless LAN connection.In the image forming apparatus 1, the user possessing the portableterminal 6 is authenticated, so that the wireless LAN connection betweenthe image forming apparatus 1 and the portable terminal 6 is carriedout.

Here, pieces of information such as “ID” and “PASSWORD” which are piecesof setting information for carrying out user authentication (individualauthentication) are stored in the storing device 35 of the portableterminal 6. As regards reading of the data from the NFC tag portion 4,the NFC_R/W portion 36 of the portable terminal 6 outputs as the NFC tagdata, the above-described pieces of information read from the storingdevice 35. By this, the image forming apparatus 1 is capable ofacquiring the setting information necessary for the individualauthentication, and authenticates the user possessing the portableterminal 6.

On the other hand, pieces of connection information such as SSID, anencryption key, and IP address, which are pieces of connectioninformation for carrying out an operation in a wireless LAN direct modeare stored in the storing device 13 of the image forming apparatus 1. Inthe memory 22 of the NFC tag portion 4 of the image forming apparatus 1,the pieces of connection information such as the SSID, the encryptionkey and the IP address which are read from the storing device 13 arestored. As regards reading of the data from the NFC_R/W portion 36 ofthe portable terminal 6, the NFC tag portion 4 of the image formingapparatus 1 outputs, as the NFC tag data, the above-described pieces ofconnection information read from the memory 22. By this, the portableterminal 6 is capable of acquiring the connection information necessaryfor the wireless LAN connection, so that the image forming apparatus 1authenticates the user possessing the portable terminal 6 and is capableof carrying out the wireless LAN connection with this portable terminal6.

As described above, in the case of this embodiment, the user brings theportable terminal 6, compatible with the NFC, close to the NFC tagportion 4 on the image forming apparatus 1 side, whereby the imageforming apparatus 1 and the portable terminal 6 acquire the pieces ofconnection information for the individual authentication and thewireless LAN connection (for example, the WiFi connection). Then, theimage forming apparatus 1 automatically makes settings of the individualauthentication and the WiFi connection, and ends the NFC after the WiFiconnection is established. Thereafter, the image forming apparatus 1 iscapable of automatically carrying out data transmission and receptionbetween itself and the portable terminal 6.

Incidentally, conventionally, in the case where the user holds theportable terminal 6 over the image forming apparatus 1, the user has noway to grasp a current communication state from the image formingapparatus 1 about whether the current communication state is a state inwhich the NFC is carried out or has already been a state capable of datatransmission and reception through the WiFi communication. Therefore, ashas already been described above, the user has no choice but to keep theportable terminal 6 held over the image forming apparatus 1, and in thatperiod the user does not readily operate the portable terminal 6.Therefore, in view of this in this embodiment, by notifying the user ofthat the WiFi connection has been established on the image formingapparatus 1 side, the user was capable of operating the portableterminal 6 while keeping the portable terminal 6 away from the imageforming apparatus 1. In the following, a “connection establishmentprocess” in this embodiment for realizing such control will bedescribed.

[Connection Establishment Process]

An operation of the CPU 7 of the controller 3 for notifying the user ofestablishment of the WiFi communication will be described by using aflowchart of FIG. 12 while making reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 . A“connection establishment process” shown in FIG. 12 is executed by theCPU 7 of the image forming apparatus 1 in response to a start of the NFCcommunication between the portable terminal 6 and the image formingapparatus 1 carried out by bringing the portable terminal 6 close to theimage forming apparatus 1 by the user.

Before the “connection establishment process” is described, in order tocarry out the NFC between the portable terminal 6 and the image formingapparatus 1, a “touch screen” showing a position where the user holdsthe portable terminal 6 over the image forming apparatus 1 will bedescribed. FIG. 13 shows the “touch screen”. The “touch screen” shown inFIG. 13 displays a target mark showing a position over which the userholds the portable terminal 6. In this embodiment, the loop antenna 26of the NFC tag portion 4 for carrying out the NFC with the portableterminal 6 is disposed in the operating panel 2, and therefore, thetarget mark is displayed on the operating panel 2. Incidentally, thescreen shown in FIG. 13 is an example, and may also be any display ifthe user can understand the position over which the user holds theportable terminal 6. Further, an “initial screen” displayed in advanceon the portable terminal 6 when the user holds the portable terminal 6over the image forming apparatus 1 will be described later (part (a) ofFIG. 19 ).

The “connection establishment process” (connection mode) will bedescribed. As shown in FIG. 12 , when the NFC is started, the CPU 7sends the connection information necessary for the wireless LAN directcommunication, to the portable terminal 6 (S1). After the connectioninformation is sent, the CPU 1 discriminates whether or not the wirelessLAN connection between the image forming apparatus 1 and the portableterminal 6 is established (S2). In the case where the wireless LANcommunication between the image forming apparatus 1 and the portableterminal 6 is established (Yes of S2), the CPU 7 notifies the user ofthat the wireless LAN connection was established in the image formingapparatus 1 (S3). As a method of notifying the user of that the wirelessLAN connection was established in the image forming apparatus 1, forexample, as shown in FIG. 14 , a notification sound may be generatedfrom the operation sound generating portion 2 c (for example, a speakeror the like) provided in the operating panel 2. Further, as shown inFIG. 15 , alight emission state of the light emitting portion 2 e (forexample, an LED or the like) may also be changed by causing the lightemitting portion 2 e to light or blink.

As shown in part (a) of FIG. 16 , a display state of the display portion2 a may also be changed by displaying, on the display portion 2 a of theoperating panel 2, a message that “CONNECTION WITH PORTABLE TERMINALESTABLISHED” or the like message. By doing so, the user can understandthat the wireless LAN connection between the image forming apparatus 1and the portable terminal 6 was established. Incidentally, at this time,the CPU 7 may cause the portable terminal 6 to display a message to theeffect that the wireless LAN connection was established (“WiFiconnection notification screen” shown in part (b) of FIG. 19 describedlater). Further, in the case of this embodiment, even after the wirelessLAN connection of the portable terminal 6 with the image formingapparatus 1 is established, data transmission and reception through theNFC is capable of being carried out between the image forming apparatus1 and the portable terminal 6 (FIG. 17 described later). In that case,after the wireless LAN connection between the image forming apparatus 1and the portable terminal 6 are established and then the portableterminal 6 is notified of that the wireless LAN connection wasestablished, to the portable terminal 6 through the NFC, as shown inpart (b) of FIG. 16 , a message to the effect that the user may separate(remove) the portable terminal 1 from the image forming apparatus 1 isdisplayed on the display portion 2 a.

Here, in response to the establishment of the wireless LAN connectionbetween the image forming apparatus 1 and the portable terminal 6, theCPU 7 provides an instruction to cause the operation sound generatingportion 2 c to generate a notification sound for notifying the user ofthe message to the effect that the wireless LAN connection wasestablished. That is, timing when the wireless LAN connection betweenthe image forming apparatus 1 and the portable terminal 6 wasestablished is timing when the operation sound generating portion 2 cgenerates the notification sound Specifically, simultaneously withdisplay on the display portion 2 a of the message to the effect that thewireless LAN connection was established or within 3 sec from thedisplay, the operation sound generating portion 2 c generates thenotification sound.

Further, in response to the establishment of the wireless LAN connectionbetween the image forming apparatus 1 and the portable terminal 6, theCPU 7 provides an instruction to cause the light emitting portion 2 e toemit light for notifying the user of the message to the effect that thewireless LAN connection was established. That is, timing when thewireless LAN connection between the image forming apparatus 1 and theportable terminal 6 was established is timing when the light emittingportion 2 e emits the light. Specifically, simultaneously with displayon the display portion 2 a of the message to the effect that thewireless LAN connection was established or within 3 sec from thedisplay, the light emitting portion 2 e emits the light.

Further, the case where in which in response to the establishment of thewireless LAN connection (communication) between the image formingapparatus 1 and the portable terminal 6, the notification to the user ismade by using both the notification sound and the light will bedescribed. In this case, the light emitting portion 2 e may generate(emit) the light within 3 sec from generation of the notification soundby the operation sound generating portion 2 c, or the operation soundgenerating portion 2 c may generate the notification sound within 3 secfrom the generation of the light by the light emitting portion 2 e.Further, these may also be performed at the same time. Incidentally, “atthe same time” described above does not “at the same time” in a strictsense, but may also have a time lag of, for example, about 0-1 sec.

As timing when the operation sound generating portion 2 c stops thegeneration of the notification sound, for example, there is timing aftera lapse of 2 sec from generation of the notification sound by theoperation sound generating portion 2 c. Thus, the generation of thenotification sound is stopped at timing of a lapse of a predeterminedtime from the generation of the notification sound by the operationsound generating portion 2 c. The display portion 2 a causes the displayto the effect that the wireless LAN communication was enabled todisappear after the operation sound generating portion 2 c stops thegeneration of the notification sound. This is because when the sounddisappears and at the same time the display of the display portion 2 aalso disappears, there is a possibility that the user is confused sincethe display of the display portion 2 a has disappeared although the userwho responded to the sound checks the display portion 2 a. Accordingly,even after the operation sound generating portion 2 c stops thegeneration of the notification sound, for about 3 sec, the display tothe effect that the wireless LAN communication was established (enabled)is continued.

As timing when the light emission or light blinking is stopped, forexample, there is timing after a lapse of 2 sec from the light emissionby the light emitting portion 2 e. Thus, the generation of thenotification sound is stopped at timing of a lapse of a predeterminedtime from the light emission by the light emitting portion 2 e. Thedisplay portion 2 a causes the display to the effect that the wirelessLAN communication was enabled to disappear after the light emittingportion 2 e stops the light emission. This is because when the lightdisappears or the light blinking state ends and at the same time thedisplay of the display portion 2 a also disappears, there is apossibility that the user is confused since the display of the displayportion 2 a has disappeared although the user who responded to the lightchecks the display portion 2 a. Accordingly, even after the lightemitting portion 2 e stops the light emission (light blinking), forabout 3 sec, the display to the effect that the wireless LANcommunication was established (enabled) is continued.

On the other hand, in the case where the wireless LAN connection withthe portable terminal 6 is not established (No of S2), the CPU 7discriminates whether or not a retry process such that the connectioninformation is resent to the portable terminal 6 is repeated apredetermined number of times (S4). In the case where the retry processis not repeated the predetermined number of times (No of S4), the CPU 7returns to the PC of the step S1 and resends the connection informationto the portable terminal 6 (retry process). In the case where althoughthe retry process is repeated the predetermined number of times, thewireless LAN connection with the portable terminal 6 is not established(Yes of S4), the CPU 7 notifies the user of connection failure bycausing the display portion 2 a to display that establishment of thewireless LAN connection through the NFC failed or the like (S5).

Incidentally, in the process shown in FIG. 12 , an example in which allthe pieces of control are executed by the CPU 7 was described, butsending of the connection information (S1 of FIG. 12 ) may also beexecuted by the NFC tag controller 21 in accordance with an instructionof the CPU 17.

A discriminating method by the CPU 7 about whether or not the wirelessLAN connection with the portable terminal 6 was established (S2 of FIG.12 ) will be described using FIG. 17 while making reference to FIGS. 6,7, 9 and 10 . FIG. 17 is a schematic view showing a communicationprocedure of the NFC and the WiFi communication between the imageforming apparatus 1 and the portable terminal 6 in this embodiment.However, in this embodiment, the case where a polling signal is sentfrom the portable terminal 6 side to the image forming apparatus 1 side,i.e., the case where the NFC_R/W portion 36 of the portable terminal 6starts a polling operation will be described as an example.

First, when the portable terminal 6 is brought close to the NFC tagportion 4, the portable terminal 6 (specifically the NFC_R/W portion 36)performs the polling operation for reading the NFC tag data of the NFCtag portion 4 (S1000). The portable terminal 6 performs the pollingoperation, whereby the portable terminal 6 is connected to the imageforming apparatus 1 in a communicatable state without conflicting withanother system (for example, a portable terminal other than the portableterminal 6 brought close to the NFC tag portion 4). In the image formingapparatus 1, the NFC tag portion 4 is actuated in response to thepolling operation performed by the portable terminal 6. Further, in theportable terminal 6, the NFC_R/W controller 41 controls the RFcontroller 42 and modulates the electromagnetic radiation on the basisof the NFC standard. This modulated wave is transmitted to the RFinterface portion 43 and is radiated as electromagnetic radiationthrough the loop antenna 44. By this radiated electromagnetic radiation,an RF field is formed in the neighborhood of the NFC_R/W portion 36 andthe NFC tag portion 4, so that the NFC_R/W portion 36 and the NFC tagportion 4 are electromagnetically coupled to each other. By this, theNFC is started.

After the NFC is started, in the image forming apparatus 1, theelectromagnetic radiation radiated from the portable terminal 6 isreceived by the loop antenna 26. The received electromagnetic radiationis transmitted to the RF interface portion 24, and the RF interfaceportion 24 generates electromotive force due to electromagneticcoupling. By this electromotive force, the NFC tag portion 4 obtainselectric power and this operates. At the same time, the electromagneticradiation received by the RF interface portion 24 is transmitted to theRF controller 23.

The NFC tag controller 21 controls the RF controller 23, and acquiresdemodulated data by demodulating the electromagnetic radiationtransmitted to the RF controller 23. The NFC tag controller 21 acquiresthe demodulated data, and thus is capable of detecting that requirementof reading the NFC tag data is made from the portable terminal 6. Whenthe NFC tag controller 21 detects that the reading requirement of theNFC tag data, the NFC tag controller 21 reads pieces of connectioninformation (SSID, the encryption key and the IP address) written as theNFC tag data in the memory 22 and then transmits the pieces ofconnection information to the RF controller 23.

The NFC tag controller 21 controls the RF controller 23, and modulatesthe transmitted pieces of connection information on the basis of the NFCstandard. The modulated pieces of connection information are radiated asthe electromagnetic radiation (response data) through the RF interfaceportion 24 and the loop antenna 26 (S1001).

In response to an end of transmission (sending) of the response data,the NFC tag controller 21 generates an interruption signal by the tagreading interruption (signal) generating portion 21 a.

Then, in the portable terminal 6, the electromagnetic radiation(response data) radiated from the image forming apparatus 1 is receivedby the loop antenna 44. The received electromagnetic radiation istransmitted to the RF controller 42 through the RF interface portion 43.The NFC_R/W controller 41 control the RF controller 42, and acquiresdemodulated data by demodulating the electromagnetic radiationtransmitted to the RF controller 42. Thereafter, in the portableterminal 6, by the NFC_R/W controller 41, the controller 31 is notifiedof reading of the connection information from the image formingapparatus. At the same time, the NFC_R/W controller 41 transfers theread connection information to the controller 31.

When the portable terminal 6 acquires the connection information fromthe image forming apparatus 1 through the NFC, on the basis of theacquired connection information, the portable terminal 6 sends a“connection requirement (predetermined signal)” of the WiFicommunication to the image forming apparatus (S1002). In general, in thewireless communication such as WiFi, a communication network is formedby connecting a WiFi-compatible terminal to an access point functioningas a relay point. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1controllers to the access point, and the portable terminal 6 controllersto the WiFi-compatible terminal. Here, for example, there area pluralityof image forming apparatuses 1 each functioning as the access point, theportable terminal 6 has to select whether the portable terminal 6 isintended to be connected to either one of the image forming apparatuses1 (access points). The user is required to cause the portable terminal 1to discriminate (identify) the image forming apparatus 1 to be connectedthereto, and an item functioning as identification mark (sign) at thattime is the “SSID”. In the case where the portable terminal 6 and theimage forming apparatus 1 are not connected to each other through theSFC, the user is required to select the “SSID”, corresponding to theimage forming apparatus 1 intended t be connected to the portableterminal 6, from a plurality of “SSIDs” displayed on the portableterminal 6 and then to send the “SSID”. In this regard, as in thisembodiment, in the case where the NFC is established, by the NFC, the“SSID” corresponding to the image forming apparatus 1 intended to beconnected to the portable terminal 6 by the user is automaticallyacquired, so that there is no need that the user manually selects the“SSID”.

In the case where the image forming apparatus 1 is identified by the“SSID”, then the WiFi connection is established between the portableterminal 6 and the image forming apparatus 1, but for that purpose, anencryption key is needed. The encryption key is used for encryptingcommunication contents. In the case where the user manually selected the“SSID”, the encryption key is also required to input the encryption key.In this embodiment, similar to the “SSID”, the encryption key is alsocontained in the NFC tag data. For that reason, the user touches the NFCtag portion 4 with the portable terminal 6, whereby in addition to the“SSID”, the encryption key is also sent from the image forming apparatus1 to the portable terminal 6.

Further, in this embodiment, information on the IP address of the imageforming apparatus is also contained in the NFC tag data. For thatreason, the portable terminal 6 acquires the NFC tag data, whereby theportable terminal 6 can know the IP address of the image formingapparatus 1 on the network.

By the above, when authentication (user authentication) of the portableterminal 6 by the image forming apparatus 1 is ended, the image formingapparatus 1 establishes the WiFi communication with the portableterminal 6. Then, when the image forming apparatus 1 establishes theWiFi communication with the portable terminal 6, the image formingapparatus 1 sends, to the portable terminal 6 through the NFC.“connection response” of the WiFi communication to the “connectionrequirement” (S1002) of the WiFi communication from the portableterminal 6 (S1003). The CPU 3 discriminates that the wireless LANconnection is established when the image forming apparatus 1 sends the“connection response” to the portable terminal 6, and ends the NFC aftersending the “connection response”. Thus, the WiFi communication isstarted in a stage in which authentication using the SSID and theencryption key is carried out, but in that state, the NFC is stillcontinued for sending the “connection response” to the portable terminal6. Then, the CPU 7 ends the NFC at timing when the CPU 7 sends the“connection response” to the portable terminal 6. When the sending ofthe “connection response” is completed, the CPU 7 causes the displayportion 2 a to display a message to the effect that the user may movethe portable terminal 6 away from the image forming apparatus 1 asdescribed above (part (b) of FIG. 16 ). Incidentally, in the case ofthis embodiment, the CPU 7 cannot establish the wireless LANcommunication unless after sending the connection information pluraltimes, the CPU 7 receives the “connection response” from the portableterminal 6 within a predetermined time (for example, within 5 sec).

Incidentally, the present invention is not limited to theabove-described constitution in which the polling operation from theportable terminal 6 to the image forming apparatus 1 is performed, butmay also be a constitution in which the polling operation from the imageforming apparatus 1 to the portable terminal 6 is performed. Therefore,the case of the constitution in which the polling operation from theimage forming apparatus 1 to the portable terminal 6 is performed willbe described using parts (a) to (c) of FIG. 18 .

As an electronics module capable of wireless communication with theimage forming apparatus 1, in addition to the portable terminal 6, forexample, an ID cart can be cited. The portable terminal 6 is a so-calledactive-type electronics module which radiates electromagnetic radiationby using electric power of a built-in battery when the portable terminalcarries out the NFC by the NFC_R/W portion 36. On the other hand, the IDcard does not incorporate the battery, and therefore cannot radiate theelectromagnetic radiation by itself with use of the electric power. TheID card is a so-called passive-type electronics module in which theelectromagnetic radiation is radiated using the received electromagneticradiation as an energy source when the NFC is carried out. The pollingoperation is different depending on whether the electronics module is ofthe above-described active type or passive type.

As has already described above, the polling operation is one of controlty pes for smoothly associating a plurality of devices and pieces ofsoftware, and the image forming apparatus is capable of detecting theelectronics modules such as the portable terminal 6 and the ID cardpositioning within a communicatable distance by the polling operation.As shown in part (a) of FIG. 18 , an output operation for outputting thepolling signal for detecting the electronics module and a monitoringoperation for monitoring reception of a response signal from theelectronics module relative to the polling signal for a predeterminedtime are used as a set, and these operations are repeated apredetermined number of times. Accordingly, during the pollingoperation, the polling signal is outputted with a predetermined outputinterval. Incidentally, in the following, a period during the pollingoperation, i.e., a period in which the polling signal is outputted andthus the electronics module is detected is referred to as a “detectionperiod”.

In the case where the electronics module enters within thecommunicatable distance of the NFC tag portion 4 during the detectionperiod, the NFC tag portion 4 of the image forming apparatus 1 receivesthe response data from the electronics module. Here, receiving timing ofthe response data received by the NFC tag portion 4 is different betweenthe case where the electronics module entering within the communicatabledistance is of the passive type (for example, the ID card) and the casewhere the electronics module is of the active type (for example, theportable terminal 6). The receiving timing of the response data refersto a period from the output of the polling signal to reception of theresponse data depending on the polling signal.

For example, when the ID card receives the polling signal, the ID cardoutputs the response data as reflected wave of the polling signal. Inthis case, when the ID card enters within the communicatable distance ofthe NFC tag portion 4, the period from the output of the polling signalto the reception of the response data is as shown in part (b) of FIG. 18. On the other hand, the portable terminal 6 is a device of transmittingthe response data by its own electric power, and therefore, differentfrom the passive-type electronics module, there is no need to output theresponse data immediately after receiving the polling signal. For thatreason, as shown in part (c) of FIG. 18 , when the portable terminal 6enters within the communicatable distance of the NFC tag portion 4, theperiod from the output of the polling signal to the reception of theresponse data is longer than the period in the case of the ID card.Incidentally, in the case where the NFC tag portion 4 receives theresponse data from the electronics module during the polling operation,the NFC tag portion 4 interrupts the polling operation and has the CPU 7take over subsequent respective processes for the NFC.

In response to the reception of the response data from the electronicsmodule, the NFC tag portion 4 sends the SSID and the encryption key tothe electronics module. These data are small in capacity, and thereforecan be transmitted by the NFC. The electronics module ishandover-connected to the WiFi by using the SSID and the encryption keywhich are received from the NFC tag portion 4. The “connectionrequirement” of the WiFi communication is made from the electronicsmodule, and thereafter, at timing when the image forming apparatus 1transmits the “connection response” to the electronics module, the CPU 7discriminates that the WiFi connection is established, and notifies theelectronics module of connection establishment of the WiFi connection.

Here, an example of a user operation using the portable terminal 6 willbe briefly described using part (a) to (d) of FIG. 9 while makingreference to FIG. 9 . Part (a) of FIG. 19 is an initial screen displayedon the portable terminal (specifically, a display portion 34 a) in thecase where the application program is started in the portable terminal 6for carrying out the NFC. At this time, the portable terminal 6 radiatesthe electromagnetic radiation for performing the polling operation. Inthis embodiment, “CANCEL” button is displayed on the initial screen. Inthe case where the “CANCEL” button is touched (operated) by the user,the portable terminal 6 stops radiation of the electromagnetic radiationfor performing the polling operation, so that the application program isended. Further, in the case where a display of “SEEK MULTI-FUNCTIONMACHINE” of part (a) of FIG. 9 is started, when a predetermined time haselapsed from the start of the display, the application program isautomatically ended.

Part (b) of FIG. 19 is a “WiFi connection notification screen” displayedon the display portion 34 a in response to the establishment of the WiFiconnection between the portable terminal 6 and the image formingapparatus 1. That is, the “WiFi connection notification screen” istemporarily displayed on the display portion 34 a in the case where theCPU 32 of the portable terminal 6 receives the “connection response”from the image forming apparatus 1. By display of this screen, the useris capable of confirming, on the portable terminal 6 side, that the WiFiconnection between the portable terminal 6 and the image formingapparatus 1 is established. As described above, the image formingapparatus 1 generates the notification sound for notifying the user ofestablishment of the WiFi connection at the timing of transmitting the“connection response” to the portable terminal 6. Therefore, from thegeneration of the notification sound from the image forming apparatus 1,the “WiFi connection screen” shown in part (b) of FIG. 19 is displayed.However, this time difference is several ms, and therefore, as a bodilysensation of the user, the timings are substantially the same.

After the display of the “WiFi connection screen” shown in part (b) ofFIG. 19 , the display of the portable terminal 6 is automaticallychanged to a “job selection screen” shown in part (c) of FIG. 19 . Onthe “job selection screen” shown in part (c) of FIG. 19 , two buttonseach capable of selecting either one of jobs of “CAPTURE” and “PRINT” asan example of the jobs and one button for “END APPLICATION” aredisplayed. Incidentally, the number of kinds of the jobs displayed onthe job selection screen and the number of buttons displayedcorrespondingly thereto are not limited to two. A job other than the“CAPTURE” and the “PRINT” ma also be selectable, and a specificationsuch that another job is selectable in addition to these jobs may alsobe employed.

Here, a “CAPTURE” job and a “PRINT” job which are capable of beingexecuted by the image forming apparatus 1 by using an applicationprogram in this embodiment will be briefly described. The “CAPTURE” jobis a function for causing the image forming apparatus 1 to read anoriginal (so-called original scanning) and then for storing image dataof the read original in the portable terminal 6. The image formingapparatus 1 uses the image reading unit 10 (FIG. 2 ) for reading theoriginal. That is, when the “WiFi connection notification screen” isdisplayed and the user confirms the establishment of the WiFi connectionbetween the portable terminal 6 and the image forming apparatus 1, theuser sets, on the image reading unit 10, an original to be desired to becaptured in the portable terminal 6. Thereafter, when the user touches(operates) a “CAPTURE” button on the job selection screen shown in part(c) of FIG. 19 , reading of the original by the image reading unit isstarted. Then, when the reading of the original is ended, the imageforming apparatus 1 transmits the image data of the read original to theportable terminal 6 through the WiFi communication. The portableterminal 6 causes the memory 33 to store the image data of the originalreceived from the image forming apparatus 1 through the WiFicommunication.

The “PRINT” job is a function for printing the image data, stored in theportable terminal 6, in the image forming apparatus 1. When the usertouches the “PRINT” button, a screen of the display of the portableterminal 6 is changed to a “data selection screen” shown in part (d) ofFIG. 19 . The “data selection screen” is a screen on which a list ofdata of images printable by using the image forming apparatus 1 isdisplayed. In this “data selection screen”, the user is capable ofselecting the image data desired to be subjected to printing by theuser. In the case where the image data is selected, the selection datais transmitted from the portable terminal 6 to the image formingapparatus 1 through the WiFi communication. The image forming apparatus1 starts an image forming job in response to reception of the image datafrom the portable terminal 6, and forms an image on the recordingmaterial S on the basis of the received image data. Thus, the user iscapable of printing a photograph, a document or the like stored in thememory 33 or the storing device 35 of the portable terminal 6. Comparedwith the near field wireless communication such as the NFC, the wirelesscommunication such as the WiFi communication is large in communicatabledata amount per unit time, and is capable of transmission and reception,in a relatively short time, of the image data such as the photograph orthe document, which is large in a data amount. Incidentally, in the casewhere the “END APPLICATION” button in the “job selection screen” istouched, the started program is ended.

Incidentally, the user operation using the portable terminal 6 after theWiFi communication is not limited to the above-described example. Forexample, in the case where an application program is started in theportable terminal 6, the “job selection screen” shown in part (c) ofFIG. 19 may also be displayed on the portable terminal 6. In this case,for example, it is assumed that for example, the “PRINT” button of the“job selection screen” is touched by the user. Then, it is assumed thatthe user selects the image data (part (d) of FIG. 19 ) desired to besubjected to printing by the user and then brings the portable terminal6 close to the operating panel 2 (FIG. 6 ) of the image formingapparatus 1. Thus, in response to that the portable terminal 6 isbrought close to the operating panel 2, as described above, the NFC andthe WiFi communication are carried out, so that the image based on theselected image data is formed on the recording material S. In this case,the user may only be required to select the image data desired to besubjected to the printing and then to bring the portable terminal 6close to the operating panel 2, so that such an operation is easy.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the user brings theportable terminal 6 close to the image forming apparatus 1, the NFC isestablished between the portable terminal 6 and the image formingapparatus 1, and then the portable terminal 6 receives, from the imageforming apparatus 1, the connection information for the WiFi connectionstored in the NFC tag. On the basis of the received connectioninformation, the portable terminal 6 establishes, with the image formingapparatus 1, the WiFi connection broader in communication range andfaster in communication speed than the NFC, and thereafter, datatransmission and reception between the portable terminal 6 and the imageforming apparatus 1 is carried out by the WiFi communication. In theimage forming apparatus 1, the NFC is ended after the WiFi communicationis established, but at that time, the user is notified of that there isno need for the user to bring the portable terminal 6 close to the imageforming apparatus 1. By this, the user is capable of moving the portableterminal 6 away from the image forming apparatus 1 even during the datatransmission and reception through the WiFi communication, so that theuser is easy to operate the portable terminal 6.

<Another Embodiment>

In the above-described embodiment, the constitution in which the loopantenna 26 of the NFC tag portion 5 for carrying out the NFC with theportable terminal 6 was disposed in the operating panel 2 was described(FIG. 7 ). However, the loop antenna 26 may also be disposed outside theoperating panel 2. For example, the loop antenna 26 may also be disposedat a position adjacent to the operating panel 2. In this case, as apredetermined position where the user holds the portable terminal 6 overthe display portion 2 a of the operating panel 2, display indicating aposition where the loop antenna 26 is disposed may preferably be made.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2019-203464 filed on Nov. 8, 2019, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an imageforming portion configured to form an image on a sheet; a communicationportion capable of communicating with a portable terminal and configuredto carry out a wireless communication with the portable terminal by awireless LAN, the communication portion being configured to receiveinformation about a size of a sheet on which the image is to be formedby the image forming portion from the portable terminal, the imageforming portion forming the image on the sheet based on the informationfrom the portable terminal; and an operating unit including a displayportion configured to display a screen to receive a setting on imageforming to the sheet by the image forming portion, and a light emittingportion configured to emit light to notify that the wirelesscommunication between the portable terminal and the communicationportion is enabled in response to enablement of the wirelesscommunication between the portable terminal and the communicationportion, the light emitting portion being configured to stop emittinglight to stop notifying that the wireless communication between theportable terminal and the communication portion is enabled in a casewhere a predetermined time has elapsed from a timing when the lightemitting portion emits light in response to enablement of the wirelesscommunication between the portable terminal and the communicationportion, wherein, in a front-rear direction of the image formingapparatus, the light emitting portion is disposed in a region outside aregion where the display portion is disposed in the operating unit. 2.An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in response tothe enablement of the wireless communication between the portableterminal and the communication portion, the light emitting portionnotifies that the wireless communication between the portable terminaland the communication portion is enabled, by changing a light emissionstate before the enablement of the wireless communication between theportable terminal and the communication portion.
 3. An image formingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display portion isconfigured to display that the wireless communication between theportable terminal and the communication portion is enabled in responseto the enablement of the wireless communication between the portableterminal and the communication portion.
 4. An image forming apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising a near field wirelesscommunication portion capable of communicating with the portableterminal through near field wireless communication, wherein thecommunication portion is capable of the wireless communication with theportable terminal by the wireless LAN on the basis of communicationbetween the portable terminal and the near field wireless communicationportion by the near field wireless communication, wherein acommunication range of the wireless LAN is broader than a communicationrange of the near field wireless communication.
 5. An image formingapparatus according to claim 3, wherein the display portion isconfigured to disappear the screen notifying that the wirelesscommunication between the portable terminal and the communicationportion is enabled after the light emitting portion stops emitting lightto stop notifying that the wireless communication between the portableterminal and the communication portion is enabled.
 6. An image formingapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sound generationportion configured to generate a notification sound for notifying thatcommunication between the portable terminal and said secondcommunication portion is enabled in response to enablement of thecommunication between the portable terminal and said secondcommunication portion, the sound generation portion being configured tostop generating the notification sound to stop notifying that thewireless communication between the portable terminal and thecommunication portion is enabled in a case where a second predeterminedtime has elapsed from a timing when the sound generation portiongenerates the notification sound in response to enablement of thewireless communication between the portable terminal and thecommunication portion.
 7. An image forming apparatus according to claim6, wherein the predetermined time is same as the second predeterminedtime.
 8. An image forming apparatus comprising: a communication portioncapable of communicating with a portable terminal and configured tocarry out a wireless communication with the portable terminal by awireless LAN, the communication portion being configured to receiveinformation about a size of a sheet on which the image is to be formedby the image forming portion from the portable terminal; an imageforming portion configured to form an image on a sheet based on theinformation from the portable terminal; an operating unit including adisplay portion configured to display a screen to receive a setting onimage forming to the sheet by the image forming portion, and a soundgeneration portion configured to generate a notification sound fornotifying that communication between the portable terminal and saidsecond communication portion is enabled in response to enablement of thecommunication between the portable terminal and said secondcommunication portion, the sound generation portion being configured tostop generating the notification sound to stop notifying that thewireless communication between the portable terminal and thecommunication portion is enabled in a case where a predetermined timehas elapsed from a timing when the sound generation portion generatesthe notification sound in response to enablement of the wirelesscommunication between the portable terminal and the communicationportion.
 9. An image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein thedisplay portion is configured to display that the wireless communicationbetween the portable terminal and the communication portion is enabledin response to the enablement of the wireless communication between theportable terminal and the communication portion.
 10. An image formingapparatus according to claim 9, wherein the display portion isconfigured to disappear the screen notifying that the wirelesscommunication between the portable terminal and the communicationportion is enabled after the sound generating portion stops generatingthe notifying sound to stop notifying that the wireless communicationbetween the portable terminal and the communication portion is enabled.11. An image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprisinga near field wireless communication portion capable of communicatingwith the portable terminal through near field wireless communication,wherein the communication portion is capable of the wirelesscommunication with the portable terminal by the wireless LAN on thebasis of communication between the portable terminal and the near fieldwireless communication portion by the near field wireless communication,wherein a communication range of the wireless LAN is broader than acommunication range of the near field wireless communication.